[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Conquests (711–1206)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest) › [Tāj al-maʾāthir](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir) › [Taju-l Ma-asir (extracts)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot) › 13 # Taj al-maʾathir 13: Fight with the Rai of Benares and Capture of Asni. Táju-l Ma-ásir (extracts) 13 - **Language:** English ### [13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.13) When the army was mustered, it was found to amount to "fifty thousand mounted men clad in armour and coats of mail," with which they advanced to fight against the Rai of Benares. The king ordered Kutbu-d din to proceed with the vanguard, consisting of one thousand cavalry, which fell upon "the army of the enemies of religion," and completely defeated it. On its return to the king, the officers were presented with robes of honour. "The Rai of Benares, Jai Chand, the chief of idolatry and perdition, advanced to oppose the royal troops with an army, countless as the particles of sand," "and the noise of the war-drum proclaimed to the ears of the worshippers of one God, aid comes from the Almighty, and the sound of the silver kettle-drum and the blast of the brazen trumpets resounded to heaven." Rhapsodical description of swords, spears, war-nooses, and archers. "The Rai of Benares, who prided himself on the number of his forces and war elephants," seated on a lofty howdah, received a deadly wound from an arrow, and "fell from his exalted seat to the earth." His head was carried on the point of a spear to the commander, and "his body was thrown to the dust of contempt." "The impurities of idolatry were purged by the water of the sword from that land, and the country of Hind was freed from vice and superstition." "Immense booty was obtained, such as the eye of the beholder would be weary to look at," including one (some copies say three) hundred elephants. The royal army then took possession "of the fort of Asni where the treasure of the Rai was deposited," and there much more precious spoil of all kinds rewarded the victors. - [Previous: 12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.12) - [Next: 14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.14) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.conquest.taj-al-maathir~en-elliot.13) · Pramāṇa